Update! Mysore, studies, and other happenings

Several weeks ago, Jeremy and I headed to Mysore with Peter and Elizabeth where we did the tourist thing. We took the train (about 3-4 hours) from Bangalore early Saturday morning, stayed one night and then headed home the next evening. Highlights of the trip included:

• figuring out how to travel by the local bus to a nearby bird sanctuary where there were lots of birds and the occasional crocodile, much to our excitement
• going up Chamundi Hill, again by local bus and checking out the view of Mysore from the top
• walking down the 1000 (ish) steps of Chamundi Hill and feeling the effects for a day or so after
• exploring the local market with rows and rows of bananas, coconuts, bangles, coloured dyes, flowers and anything else you might want

On the train - a particularly comfy ride



Lunch on banana leaves!

Bird Sanctuary on the Cauvery River

Up Chamundi Hill looking down at Mysore

One Thousand Steps

Pilgrims walking up the steps, placing coloured powder on each step as they go

Coloured powders at the market

SAIACS studies

2 months of classes have come and gone. Our first month-long-module was a focus on the major religions of the world. The hot topic was understanding how people come to have certain belief systems and world views, not to mention how our own world views are shaped. What better way to grasp the paperwork than to visit the places. Our field trip consisted of time at a Mosque, a Buddhist Temple, a Zoroastrian Fire Temple, a Hindu Philosophical Centre, a Sikh Temple and both a Svetambara and a *Digambara Jain Temple. India is a super diverse place so you never have to travel far to see differing beliefs and practices.

It was a really interesting and challenging experience but nothing had the Jesus factor that is changing and compelling us to care for the world we live in.

*If you want to to know about some different religious dress, the Digambara sect is it. But be warned, search on Wikipedia, not Google (or you will get more than you bargain for!!!)

July was focused on Cultural Anthropology where we looked at people groups around the World – not just different countries, but whatever causes a group of people to identify as a unit. As part of the paper, we had to make a video with gospel-hope, bringing change and transformation to a people group. Jeremy's group chose women in bonded labor – girls and women who are sold into the sex trade in India. We hope this impacts you- that's why we made it:

 

During the Muslim month of Ramadan all shapes and sizes would flock to the street stalls after dark to break their fast. There were stalls selling kebabs, grilled meats, pastries, Indian sweets, milkshakes, desserts and a myriad of dates. Highlights: Grilled chicken marinated in coriander and mint, trying camel for the first time, and seeing meat cooked on a huge slab of granite over a wood fire. YUM.

Trying camel

Jeremy in date-heaven

 

McDonalds, eat your heart out

A Kurdish proverb: "Bread and gratitude are eaten together" - we have feasted on the blessings and joys that India has to offer, and we are so grateful for the many opportunities and wonderful people we have met!